P1–6 ETHICS PROBLEM What does it mean to say that managers should maximize shareholder wealth “subject to ethical constraints”? What ethical considerations might enter into decisions that result in cash flow and stock price effects that are less than they might otherwise have been?

P1–6 ETHICS PROBLEM What does it mean to say that managers should maximize shareholder wealth “subject to ethical constraints”? What ethical considerations might enter into decisions that result in cash flow and stock price effects that are less than they might otherwise have been?

E2–4 Your broker calls to offer you the investment opportunity of a lifetime, the chance

to invest in mortgage-backed securities. The broker explains that these securities are

entitled to the principal and interest payments received from a pool of residential

mortgages. List some of the questions you would ask your broker so as to assess the

risk of this investment opportunity.

P2–4 Interest versus dividend income During the year just ended, Shering Distributors,

Inc., had pretax earnings from operations of $490,000. In addition, during the year

it received $20,000 in income from interest on bonds it held in Zig Manufacturing

and received $20,000 in income from dividends on its 5% common stock holding in

Tank Industries, Inc. Shering is in the 40% tax bracket and is eligible for a 70% dividend

exclusion on its Tank Industries stock.

a. Calculate the firm’s tax on its operating earnings only.

b. Find the tax and the after-tax amount attributable to the interest income from

Zig Manufacturing bonds.

c. Find the tax and the after-tax amount attributable to the dividend income from

the Tank Industries, Inc., common stock.

d. Compare, contrast, and discuss the after-tax amounts resulting from the interest

income and dividend income calculated in parts b and c.

e. What is the firm’s total tax liability for the year?